The Fourth Book of Virgil\'s Aeneid and the Ninth Book of Voltaire\'s Henriad
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Virgil and Voltaire >> The Fourth Book of Virgil\'s Aeneid and the Ninth Book of Voltaire\'s Henriad
Meanwhile AEneas in his fleet repos'd,
His doubts remov'd, and all for flight dispos'd.
To him the form divine he'd seen before,
Appear'd in sleep--again his mandate bore;
695 The graceful limbs of youth, the flaxen hair,
The voice, the rosy hue, Jove's son declare.
"O goddess born! can sleep weigh down your eyes,
Clos'd to the dangers which around you vise?
Senseless!--the zephyrs waste their fav'ring breath,
700 While brooding in a soul resolv'd on death
Some black design, matures, some treach'rous blow,
Haste then and fly, while yet you've pow'r to go.
You'll see, if here you wait the morning ray,
The port block'd up, the shore to flames a prey.
705 Woman's a thing so variable and light!
Haste then away. He spoke and mix'd with night.
AEneas trembling as the phantom flew,
Started from sleep, and rous'd the slumb'ring crew.
"Rise, rise, companions, each one to his oar;
710 Hoist ev'ry sail--a god sent down once more,
Impels our flight--Be quick--stand out to sea,
The cables cut. Great God, whoe'er you be
Thy words again exulting we obey.
Be present, rule our stars--direct our way
715 Propitious". He spoke, his whirling falchion drew,
The halser cut, the bark impatient flew,
All felt the impulse--dashing thro' the tide
They quit the shore, their barks the ocean hide;
The boiling wave their oars alternate sweep,
720 They bend, they pull, they cut the sounding deep.
Now rising from Tithonius golden bed
Fresh beams of rosy light Aurora shed;
And as the scatter'd shades were pierc'd with grey,
The Queen from high beheld them under way,
725 Their swelling sail the fav'ring breezes bent,
The shore, the port, a lonely space present.
Oh then her lovely bosom in despair
She beat. Oh then she tore her flaxen hair.
"He's gone--Almighty heav'n, he's gone! she cries,
730 That wand'ring exile all my pow'r defies.
Arm, arm, my warriors--sally from the town;
Pursue the wretches--haul my gallies down;
Bring flaming brands, with sails with oars pursue.
--What have I said, alas! what would I do?
735 Where am I--and my mind what phrenzy leads!
Now Dido, now, you feel your impious deeds.
Then was the time, your sceptre when you shar'd.
O thou for faith, for piety rever'd!
This, this is he whose pious shoulders bore
740 His gods, his father, from the Trojan shore!
Why did I not those limbs to pieces tear,
Behold the waves, the bloody fragments bear,
Cut off his friends and sever'd with the sword,
Serve up Ascanius at his father's board!
745 His fortune might prevail--and so it might!
What has despair to fear--in Fortune's spite
I'd fire the fleet, the town, the son, the sire,
The race extinguish, and with joy expire.
"O Sun, whose beams all earthy deeds reveal,
750 Juno who know and witness what I feel,
Hecate whose howl the midnight hour affrights,
Gods of my parting soul--avenging sprites,
Accept my vow, my pray'r expiring hear;
The ills I bear are worthy of your ear".
755 "If so the fates decree, if Jove command,
That, he accurst, shall reach th' Italian land,
There may he meet in arms, a warlike race,
There helpless rove, torn from his son's embrace,
His friends untimely end there let him feel;
760 For succour there to strangers meanly kneel;
And when for peace, ingloriously he sues,
His crown, his life, untimely may he lose,
And lie unburied on the naked shore;
765 With the last breath of life this pray'r I pour.
And you, my Tyrian friends--thro' times extent
On that curst race eternal hatred vent.
These gifts, these honors, let my ashes reap,
No peace, no treaty with that people keep.
770 Rise, rise some vast avenger from my tomb,
With fire with sword that Dardan breed consume.
Now and as long as Fate the pow'r shall lend,
May shore with shore--may wave with wave contend,
So prays my soul--let arms with arms engage,
And children's children war eternal wage.
775 So Dido pray'd, while her distracted thought
To shun light's hated beams, impatient sought.
To Barce then, her husband's nurse, she said,
(Her own at Tyre, within the tomb was laid).
Go, Barce, go my sister hither bring
780 With water sprinkled from the sacred spring;
Bid her the victims lead, the rites prepare,
And you yourself a sacred fillet wear:
The rite began to Stygian Jove we'll end,
My cares shall vanish as the flames ascend,
785 His image wasting as the pyre consumes";
She spoke--the step of age officious haste assumes.
But now the ripen'd project chill'd her soul;
Thro' starting blood her eyeballs burning roll;
Her cheek convuls'd with spots of livid red,
790 All pale and ghastly, Death approaching spread.
Strait to the court with darting stop she bends,
With frantic haste the funeral pyle ascends,
And from the scabbard draws the Dardan blade.
(Sad gift, alas, for no such purpose made),
795 But when the bed, and Trojan vest she view'd;
That well known bed--she paus'd--and pensive stood.
Tears found their way--once more that bed she prest
As these last words her parting breath exprest.
"Dear pledges! yes!--while heaven allow'd it so?
800 Now take this soul---relieve me from this woe;
I've liv'd, whatever fortune gave is o'er;
No common shade I seek the dreary shore,
My walls arise, I leave a glorious state;
--Not unreveng'd I view'd my husband's fate;
805 Alas, too happy--had the envious gales,
To Lybia's coast, ne'er bent the Phrygian sails".
She ceas'd--and kiss'd again the fatal bed:
"--And must I die--and none avenge me dead?
Yes, yes! I die, since fate will have it so,
Thus, even thus, well pleas'd beneath the shades I go;
810 These rising flames his cruel eye shall meet,
A dreadful omen to attend his fleet"!
With this they saw her falling on the sword;
Her blood along the reeking weapon pour'd,
815 Ran trickling down her hands.--Now horrid cries
Through all the palace all the town arise--
Fame blows the deed--loud shouts from heav'n rebound,
And groans and yells and female shrieks resound,
As loud and shrill as if to foes a prey,
820 Carthage or ancient Tyre abandon'd lay,
And thro' the temples and abodes of man,
Fierce flames with undistinguish'd fury ran.
Her sister hears the tumult of despair,
She starts--she tears her breast, she reads her hair,
825 And wildly bursting thro' the gathering crowd,
Calls on her dying sister's name aloud:
Dido--Dear sister--how am I betray'd!
For this, these flames--this pyre, these shrines I made.
Oh what complaints for me forlorn suffice!
850 Could you, resolv'd to die, your friend despise,
Was I unworthy deem'd to share your end?
One pang our souls should free, one fate attend.
I call'd our gods--my hands these rites prepar'd;
You go without me, and our fate unshar'd?
835 Oh, sister! this sad deed has ruin'd all;
With you, your state, your friends, your sister fall.
--But pour the stream--I'll wash the blood away,
And if some ling'ring breath of life delay,
These lips shall catch it.--On the pyre she prest
840 Her sister, just expiring, to her breast;
She wip'd the blood--and Dido heard her cries,
And strove to raise in rain her languid eyes,
They clos'd again,--and babbling in the wound
The frothy blood hiss'd forth a horrid sound.
845 Thrice on her hand she lean'd to raise her head,
And thrice sank down unable on her bed;
Her eyes half fix'd, she open'd to the day,
And groan'd that stil they felt the vivid ray.
Till Juno who beheld her ling'ring death,
850 The painful agony of parting breath,
Sent Iris down in pity from the sky,
To free her soul, and loose the stubborn tye.
For since unclaim'd by Fate, before her day,
She fell to love forlorn a guiltless prey,
855 } To cut the tress, the queen of night delay'd,
} The flaxen hair that on her forehead stray'd,
} Nor yet consign'd her to the Stygian shade.
Then Iris, going from the sunbeam drew
A thousand colours, varying as she flew;
860 Her dewy wing in liquid azure spread,
Dropt down the sky, and hov'ring o'er her head
"Pluto, this fated lock I bear to thee,
And from this body set the spirit free",
She said--Her fingers cut the flaxen hair,
865 The heat dissolv'd--the soul exhal'd in air.
* * * * *
THE
HENRIAD.
CANTO IX.
ARGUMENT.
Description of the Palace of Love.--Discord implores his aid to bend the
unconquerable courage of Henry IV.--Description of Gabrielle d'Etree.
Henry, passionately enamoured with her; quits his army, and loses the
advantages of his victory at Ivry. Mornay seeks him in his retreat,
tears him from the arms of his mistress, and restores him to his army.
WHERE fam'd Idalia's happy plains extend,
As Europe's bounds begin and Asia's end,
Stands an old palace, long by time rever'd;
The first rude plan the hand of nature rear'd;
5 But soon, disdaining Nature's simple taste,
Intruding art the modest fabric grac'd.
There vernal breezes fann'd the myrtle shade,
Soft odour breath'd, and beams unclouded play'd.
No tyrant winter e'er despoil'd the grove,
10 Bid feather'd warblers end the note of love,
Or bound the murm'ring rill in icy chains.
Eternal verdure crown'd the blissful plains;
No labour Earth requir'd, no season knew,
Unbid by man her smiling harvest grew;
15 Round mellow fruit, the timid blossom twin'd,
Gay Flora's bloom to rich Pomona join'd.
Not wanton Nature when her reign began,
Such blessings lavish'd on her fav'rite man;
The thoughtless joy which from abundance flows,
20 Days without care, and nights of calm repose:
All to delude the mind, to charm the sense,
All Eden e'er could boast,--but innocence.
Sweet music wafted on the balmy breeze,
Invited languor and voluptuous ease,
25 While am'rous lays in dulcet note proclaim
The lovers triumph, and the fair one's shame.
There to the laughing god in flow'rs array'd,
The graceful throng their daily homage paid;
There in his temple learn'd the fatal art,
30 To please, seduce, and captivate the heart.
Young Hope, in flatt'ring smiles for ever gay,
To Love's mysterious altar leads the way:
The graces round, half veil'd and half in sight,
Enticing motion with their voice unite;
35 While Indolence, luxurious laid along,
Listless and loit'ring, hears the tender song.
There, silent Myst'ry, with the veil she wears,
And eyes conversing with the soul, appears,
Attentive tender cares, attracting smiles,
40 Gay sport and mirth, and all that thought beguiles.
Lascivious pleasures group'd with wanton ease;
And soft desires that more than pleasure please.
Such the delightful entrance of the dome:
But onward if with guardless step you roam,
45 And thro' the deep recess audacious pry,
What alter'd scenes of horror strike your eye!
No pleasures form'd in playful groupes invite,
No dulcet sounds the ravish'd ear delight;
50 No tender cares:--- But in their place appear,
Sullen Complaint, and cloy'd Disgust, and Fear;
There, fever'd Jealousy with livid hue,
And falt'ring steps unwinds Suspicion's clew;
Arm'd with the blood-stain'd instruments of death,
There, Rage and Hatred spread their poison'd breath;
55 While Malice, brooding over secret guile,
Repays their labour with a treach'rous smile;
Remorse, that never sleeps, brings up the rear,
Hates his own deed, and drops a barren tear.
There, Love, capricious child, had chose to reign,
60 And pains and pleasures were his motely train;
Cruel and kind by turns, but ever blind,
The dear delight, the torment of mankind,
Thro' ev'ry camp, thro' ev'ry senate glides,
Commands the warrior, o'er the judge presides;
65 Still welcome to the heart, he still deceives,
Pants in each bosom, thro' all nature lives.
High on a throne of endless conquest vain,
Love bids the monarch drag his servile chain;
And glorying less to please, than to destroy,
70 In scenes of woe exults with savage joy.
Him, Discord sought, by Rage relentless led,
The timid pleasures knew the fiend and fled;
Her eyes were fire, fresh blood her forehead dy'd,
Around she whirl'd her flaming torch, and cry'd:
75 "Why sleeps my brother o'er the poison'd dart?
His pow'r forgetting o'er the human heart?
Did ever Love the flames of Discord waft,
Or Discord's venom tinge Love's deadly shaft?
Did I for Love, bid madd'ning worlds engage?
80 Rise then--avenge my insult, serve my rage;
Behold a conqu'ring king my pow'r defy!
Crush'd by his hand, behold my serpents die!
See dove-ey'd Mercy smiling by his side,
Thro' fields of civil rage his faithful guide;
85 See to his standard ev'ry heart return,
While I my falling empire vainly mourn:
Let him, with her, obtain one conquest more,
Paris is his, and Discord's reign is o'er:
Her smiles will gild the triumph which he gains,
90 Then what is left for me but hopeless chains!
But Love shall wind this torrent from its course,
And soil his glories in their limpid sourse;
Spite of the virtues which adorn his mind,
In am'rous chains that haughty spirit bind.
95 Can you forget what heroes once you charm'd,
Whom at her feet fair Omphale disarm'd?
Whose purple sail before Augustus flew,
Who lost the world for Egypt's queen and you?
To these proud trophies Henry's name unite,
100 Beneath your myrtle all his laurels blight:
You serve yourself, when you my throne maintain,
For Lore and Discord must together reign".
So spoke the monster, and the vault around
Trembling, threw back on Earth the deadly sound.
105 Love heard, and answ'ring with a doubtful smile,
Where half was sweetness, half insidious guile,
His golden quiver o'er his shoulder threw,
And gliding soft thro' yielding azure flew.
Pleasure, the graces, and unthinking sport,
110 Born by the Zephyr, were his wanton court.
Pois'd on his even wing, he look'd with joy
On Simois, and the plain where once was Troy;
A smile the triumph of his heart betray'd,
To view the mighty ruin Love had made.
115 On Venice, long were bent his partial eyes,
Thro' the blue main where gilded domes arise:
Old Neptune saw them pierce the curling wave,
Own'd the audacious conquest,--and forgave.
To fam'd Sicilia next his flight he bends,
120 Stoops on the purple pinion, and descends
Where he himself inspir'd the Mantuan swain,
And taught Theocritus his tender strain;
There, Fame reports, by ways unknown, he led
The am'rous stream to Arethusa's bed.
125 Then on the downy sail he sought Vaucluse,
Retreat of Petrarch's love and Petrarch's muse;
Fond Echo yet remember's Laura's name;
And what she gave in love repays in fame.
Eure's winding shores his fond attention draw,
130 Where Love's own work, Anet's proud dome he saw;
The fretted ceiling, Henry's cypher grac'd,
By Love himself with fair Diana's plac'd.
The graces dropt a crystal tear, and threw
Around her urn fresh roses as they flew.
135 His wing at length on Ivry's plain he clos'd,
Where Bourbon's thunder for a lime repos'd;
But while the native of the wood he chas'd,
The manly sport war's dreadful image trac'd.
Love spread his chains, and sharp'ning ev'ry dart,
140 Inhuman pleasure bounded in his heart.
"Arise ye winds," he cried, "the storm prepare,
Collect the pregnant clouds, and dim the air;
The hanging torrent from their bosom pour,
Bid forked lightening fly, and thunders roar".
145 Too soon the blust'ring slaves his will obey'd
Their dusky pinions spread a moving shade;
} O'er the bright scene, dark low'ring mist they drove,
} The languid beam with night usurping strove,
} Pale Nature wept the change and knew the work of Love.
150 Benighted and alone, the king pursu'd
A light that glimmer'd thro' the distant wood:
Love whirl'd his torch, and cast the treach'rous ray,
Like earth-born vapours glitt'ring to betray:
Which lead the trav'ller to the fatal brink,
155 Then leave him to his wretched doom and link.
Fate so decreed it--in this lonely spot,
Retreat and calm, a noble fair one sought;
Far from the tumult of contending arms,
A solitary castle hid her charms,
160 Her tender form from all mankind conceal'd,
While war detain'd her father in the field.
But while his sov'reign's toil the vet'ren shar'd,
His lovely child the fost'ring graces rear'd.
D'Etree (that name the favour'd mortal bore),
165 Of ev'ry, charm exhausted Nature's store.
Not on Eurota's bank, so beauteous shone
The faithless partner of the Spartan throne;
Not she who conquer'd, whom the world obey'd,
On Cydnus when in pomp of charms array'd,
170 Mortals deceiv'd, in awful rapture gaz'd,
And incense to the present goddess blaz'd.
Scarce had she gain'd the charming dang'rous years,
A pow'r too sure, when rising passion bears.
Pure as heav'ns image in the crystal deep,
175 Ere clouds arise, when wanton zephyrs sleep,
Her breast for love and gen'rous feeling form'd,
No sigh had heav'd, no tender passion warm'd.
In vain the treasures of the budding rose,
From am'rous gales their modest folds enclose;
180 As vernal suns each timid charm display,
They yield, and blushing, own the genial ray.
Love, treacherous god, still fertile in deceit,
Long sought the maid, yet seem'd by chance to meet.
A shepherd's boy he came, in outward shew,
185 His back no quiver bore, his hand no bow:
Careless he cried,--but so that she might hear,
"See Ivry's hero thro' our grove appear!
See Henry comes!" The voice of Love conveys
A secret wish to see him, and to please:
190 A conscious blush diffus'd a livelier hue,
Love felt the charm, and glory'd in the view.
Sure of his triumph with such beauty's aid,
Full in the monarch's sight he plac'd the maid.
Around her dress he threw that careless air,
195 It seem'd what Nature's self would choose to wear;
Her auburn locks in easy tresses play'd,
Now hid her snowy neck, and now betray'd;
No muse can paint what playful zephyr show'd,
Nor tell the charm that modesty bestow'd:
200 Not the stiff airs that prudish virtue arm,
The foes of love, the bane of ev'ry charm:
Sweet, bashful grace, that bends the timid eye,
Spreads o'er the glowing cheek a heav'nly dye,
With soft respect extatic rapture blends,
205 And heavn's pure bliss to Love triumphant lends.
But Love does more: for Love what pow'r can bound?
A charm invincible he calls around,
Their tender boughs enchanted myrtles spread,
Rise thro' the earth and wave their taper head:
210 Deluded mortals seek the tempting shades,
The secret charm their languid sense invades,
Around, a stream in lulling manner flows,
Of deep forgetfulness, of soft repose;
Bound in the chain no more they seek to move;
215 Fame, honor, duty, what are you to Love?
Here all alike the sweet delusion share,
And breathe delicious poison with the air.
All whispers love, the birds on ev'ry spray
Prolong the kiss, and swell the am'rous lay;
220 The hardy swain, who with the peep of dawn,
Jocund and careless sought the russet lawn,
Heaves as he goes involuntary sighs;
Unusual troubles in his breast arise,
Beat in his pulse, his loit'ring feet retain;
225 Neglected lye the treasures of the plain:
The same soft charm the trembling maid deceives,
The herd forgot, the sheaf unbound she leaves.
How could d'Etree with such a pow'r contest!
A god invincible her soul possest.
230 In vain, alas! that fatal day she strove,
With youth, with glory, with her heart and love.
In rain a rising voice in Henry's breast,
Back to his ranks the love-lost hero prest;
A pow'r unseen repell'd the gen'rous thought,
235 His virtue vainly in himself he sought;
His soul empassion'd, deaf to honor's call,
Could hear but love, d'Etree possess'd it all.
Meanwhile his chiefs, impatient on the plain,
His absence mourn'd, and sought their king in vain;
240 A thousand dangers for his life appear'd,
For Henry's fame what danger could be fear'd?
No hope of victory the troops inspir'd,
Lost was their ardor when their chief retir'd.
Still the good genius of the realm was near,
245 To cheer their courage, to dispel their fear.
Summon'd by Lewis, from the realm of light
Downward the spirit shap'd his rapid flight,
Around this earthly planet cast his eyes,
To find below a mortal truly wise.
250 Not in the noisy school, or silent cell
Where pray'r, and meagre fast, and study dwell;
Amid the tumult of the martial train,
With rest and conquest flush'd, on Ivry's plain,
Where Calvin's banners to the sky were rear'd,
255 The man he sought, the real sage appear'd:
Mornay was he.--Heav'n form'd the man, to show
That Reason's light may guide us here below;
Plato her voice, and good Aurelius heard,
She led the Pagan right, when Christian's err'd.
260 Such modest candour temper'd manly sense,
When Mornay censur'd, none could take offense;
For truth by him, in winning form convey'd,
Was but the virtue which his life display'd.
Still lean'd his heart the faults of men to bear,
265 While reason told him, all men had their share;
But mid surrounding vices ever pure,
Nor ease nor pleasure could his soul allure.
As thro' the bosom of the briny tide,
Thy limpid waters Arethusa glide,
270 And yet unsully'd by the neighb'ring deep,
Unmix'd and pure their spotless tenor keep.
By friendship guided, gen'rous Mornay came
Where loiter'd Henry, mindless of his fame;
275 The artful god prolong'd the am'rous trance,
And in her hero rul'd the fate of France.
No sameness there the varied bliss destroy'd,
No languor chill'd, no forward pleasure cloy'd;
Each wish attain'd, another wish inspires;
280 Each new enjoyment led to new desires:
Such vary'd ways to please, love taught d'Etree,
Nor time nor habit stole one charm away.
The god with anger blushing as he view'd
Mornay and wisdom on his reign intrude:
Turn'd with revengeful instinct to his dart,
285 And aim'd the deadly shaft at Mornay's heart.
His anger and his arms the sage defy'd,
His breast the bounding arrow turn'd aside:
Impatient for the monarch's lonely hour,
He rov'd indignant thro' th' enchanted bow'r.
290 Where silver streams a myrtle grove inclose,
The veil that timid love and mystry chose,
With all her charms d'Etree her lover blest:
Now flames consume, now languor fills his breast;
Soft drops of pleasure glisten'd in their eyes,
295 Voluptuous tear that love knows how to prize;
No coy reserve the burning bliss restrain'd,
Fond passion, prodigal of pleasure, reign'd;
While Love's mute eloquence their lips employ,
Short sighs and gentle murmurs speak their joy:
300 Their panting hearts with glowing transport swell,
Which love alone inspires, alone can tell.
Young pleasures sporting in luxurious ease,
And infant Cupid's on his amour seize;
Some dragg'd the bloody cuirass o'er the ground,
305 Or from his thigh, the pond'rous blade unbound;
Some from the casque the crystal torrent pour'd,
To wash the crimson spot that stain'd the sword,
And laugh as in their feeble hand they wield
The crown's support, the terror of the field.
310 Discord, who view'd him with insulting spite,
In savage accents utter'd fierce delight;
Rous'd up the league, the happy moment prest,
Reviv'd her serpents drooping in her breast;
And while the monarch languished in repose,
315 Blew the shrill blast, that gathered all his foes.